Saddleback Routs Bolsa Grande : Campbell and Butler Lead Roadrunners to 42-7 Victory

Saddleback High School totaled 310 yards and scored in every quarter, cruising to a 42-7 victory over Bolsa Grande Thursday night in the opening round of the Central Conference playoffs in Santa Ana Stadium.

The Roadrunners, 10-1 and seeded second in the 16-team playoffs, had a 28-0 lead at halftime and were never threatened. Bolsa Grande, which finished 6-5, finally scored with 4:40 remaining against Saddleback’s second-string defense.

Jerry Witte, Saddleback coach, began substituting in the third quarter and cleared his bench midway through the final quarter in the lopsided win. It was the seventh time this season the Roadrunners have limited an opponent to seven points or less.

As usual, tailback Glenn Campbell paced the Saddleback running attack, but the senior fell short of his 121-yard-per-game average with 76 yards. Campbell scored on runs of 3 and 17 yards, giving him 17 touchdowns.

The most impressive offensive player for the Roadrunners was quarterback Myron Butler. Butler completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Butler’s best pass was a perfectly thrown, 30-yard touchdown to Danny Ontiveros with 14 seconds left in the first half that gave the Roadrunners a 28-0 lead.

Bolsa Grande committed two turnovers and had a 17-yard punt that helped the Roadrunners build their big lead. Campbell got Saddleback rolling with a three-yard run for a score following Travin Lui’s 17-yard punt, and Butler followed with a 14-yard touchdown run to give Saddleback ahead a 14-0 advantage after one quarter.

Butler warmed up his passing arm in the second quarter, throwing a 15-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Hector Santa Cruz and then following with his perfect strike to Ontiveros to close the scoring.

It was apparent after one quarter that Bolsa Grande would have a difficult time scoring against Saddleback’s defense, which was led by linebacker Don Warnick, end Don Westphal and tackle Peter Pesak.

“We had great field position all night, and they couldn’t do anything against our defense,” Witte said. “Pesak is an excellent high school lineman who has worked very hard for the last two years.”

Greg Shadid, Bolsa Grande coach, blamed his team’s poor offensive showing in the first half to playoff jitters.

“We were nervous,” he said. “We weren’t intimidated, but we made mistakes, like jumping offsides on critical plays. We normally don’t do those things, but then we haven’t been in the playoffs, either.”

There were some bright spots for Bolsa Grande. The Matadors are a young team with 15 underclassmen starting, including sophomore quarterback Damon Fisher. Fisher played well, completing 9 of 17 pass attempts for 113 yards in addition to rushing for 28 yards. Tackle David Lannon, only a junior, also played well.

“This was our first taste of the playoffs,” Shadid said. “We couldn’t contain their quarterback, and their speed really hurt us. We’re a young team that will only get better.”

Shadid then turned from coach to analyst when he was asked whom he thought would win the anticipated second-round match-up between Saddleback and Valencia next week.

Bolsa Grande lost to Valencia, 48-0, in the fifth week of the season. The Tigers meet Norwalk tonight in Bradford Stadium with the winner advancing to face Saddleback.

“It’s a toss-up,” Shadid said. “You’re talking about two completely different types of teams. Saddleback has the speed and a very good quarterback. Valencia has the power with these big linemen and (Ray) Pallares running the ball.

Witte said he will get his first look at Valencia tonight.

Sad--Campbell 3 run (Maxwell kick) Sad--Butler 13 run (Maxwell kick) Sad--Santa Cruz 15 pass from Butler (Maxwell kick) Sad--Ontraveros 30 pass from Butler (Maxwell kick) Sad--Campbell 17 run (Maxwell kick) Sad--Haddix 3 run (Hoialmen kick) BG--Fisher 3 run (Shockley kick) Attendance--1,100